Groups of drugs used in chemotherapy
The broadest grouping of drugs are:
- Cytotoxics
- Cisplatin
- 5-fluorouracil
- Docetaxel
- Targeted therapies
- Erlotinib
- Cetuximab
A more detailed breakdown looks like this:
- Alkylating agents
- Originally derived from mustard gas, can alkylate DNA, RNA and proteins therefore limiting DNA replication during cell division.
- Drugs include: Cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, dacarbazine, temozolomide
- Antimetabolites
- Impede DNA and RNA synthesis due to having a similar structure
- Examples include anti-folates such as methotrexate, and fluoropyrimidines such as fluorouracil, and thiopurines such as mercaptopurine
- Antimicrobial agents
- Plant derived chemicals that block cell division by preventing microtubule function
- Examples include Vinorelbine, vindesine and vinflunine
- Topoisomerase inhibitors
- Drugs that inhibit action of topoisomerase I and II, enzymes used in DNA replication
- Examples include topotecan and doxorubicin (inhibit topoisomerase I and II respectively)
- Cytotoxic antibodies
- Varied group of antibiotics that interrupt cell division.
- Important subgroups are anthracyclines and bleomycins.
- Examples include doxorubicin and pirarubicin
Most of these drugs are delivered via IV.